ARTICLES ABOUT HALF CENT BY DATE - PAGE 3

Palm Beach County voters are likely to have more than Bush-Kerry to debate this year. Get ready for a campaign to increase the sales tax by a half-percent to pay for new schools. Schools Superintendent Art Johnson for the first time Wednesday said he wants the School Board to seek a half-cent sales-tax increase in a November referendum. The board on Monday is to discuss the proposal to provide $560 million for construction projects in the next five years. Johnson at first vigorously pushed raising the money through property taxes.

County business leaders want the school district to raise $560 million for school construction by asking voters for a half-cent sales tax increase in November, not a property tax vote in March. The Economic Council of Palm Beach County announced Friday it wants the sales tax increase -- which affects tourists as well as area residents -- as the source of money to build new schools and upgrade old ones. The district estimates the extra half-cent could produce $800 million over 15 years; the council wants the tax to stop after $560 million is collected.

Consumers who shop in Miami-Dade County will have to dig a little deeper into their pockets beginning today. A half-cent sales tax for transportation approved by county voters in November will be added to all transactions except certain food and medicines or the portion of goods costing more than $5,000. The money will pay for adding 90 miles of rail lines to Metrorail, doubling the county's bus fleet and adding 22 new routes, improving major roads such as Krome Avenue and synchronizing traffic signals.

Consumers who shop in Miami-Dade County will have to dig a little deeper into their pockets beginning today. A half-cent sales tax for transportation approved by county voters in November will be added to all transactions except certain food and medicines or the portion of goods costing more than $5,000. The money will pay for adding 90 miles of rail lines to Metrorail, doubling the county's bus fleet and adding 22 new routes, improving major roads such as Krome Avenue and synchronizing traffic signals.

The editors of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel appear to be obsessive-compulsive in their opposition to the bullet train. Every few weeks there is some reference to the bullet train "boondoggle" and the insinuation that voters were ignorant about the issue. The bullet train and its costs were discussed, studied and reported for years before the issue ever went on the ballot. Might I suggest the editors check the Sun-Sentinel's archives on this topic? Besides the Sun-Sentinel, this issue was discussed in countless magazine articles, virtually all statewide newspapers, local nightly news, as well as community TV programming.

Town commissioners endorsed a half-cent gasoline tax to help pay for shelter and services for Broward County homeless people _ but it appears that their support won't make a difference. The commissioners unanimously approved a resolution supporting the tax after County Commissioner Norman Abramowitz sought the opinions of municipalities. However, House Speaker Daniel Webster, R-Orlando, last week blocked a procedural move that would have kept alive a bill authorizing the tax. There is a small chance that the tax will be resurrected during this legislative session.

A plan to let Broward County use proceeds from a penny-a-gallon gas tax for homeless programs breezed through a Senate committee on Tuesday as delegation members tried to head off opposition in the House. The Senate Community Affairs Committee unanimously approved the bill (SB 2250), sponsored by Sen. Howard Forman, D-Pembroke Pines. Broward legislators say totals could pump up to $6 million a year into programs to assist the region's estimated 5,000 homeless people. But the legislation faces a bumpy road in the House, where Speaker Daniel Webster, R-Orlando, has voiced vehement opposition.

County voters probably won't have to grapple with it on their November ballot. But a much-debated plan to bankroll schools by raising the sales tax by a half-cent remains a hot topic. The Alliance of Delray Residential Associations explores the subject anew at a free forum on Wednesday. The guest speakers will be school board member Paulette Burdick and Deputy Schools Superintendent Philip Rohr. The event starts at 9:30 a.m. at the South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road. For more information, call Alliance President Bert Mehl at 561-495-6662.

The Palm Beach County School Board unanimously decided on Wednesday to ask voters in September to pass a half-penny sales tax increase that would raise money to build schools. But convincing a mistrustful public to support the tax, which would be levied for 12 to 15 years and raise about $65 million a year, will take some doing and some cash, school officials said. In January, district staff will begin asking business leaders for money to pay for a marketing campaign expected to cost more than $400,000, said Bob Douglas, director of business and community alliances.